I was introduced for the first time Striper by the late, great Rob Campo of the New York (and later Los Angeles) metal scene in 1987. I know nothing about Christian metal. I actually know next to nothing about Christianity, but when I first discovered it Soldiers under command For the record, I really don’t care about any religious message or not. I had heard many records that had “satanic” messages and I was pretty indifferent to them.
And while the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) was trying to scare my mom into thinking I was going to worship Satan because I heard: Ozzya funny thing happened after repeated experiments with such groups Slayer:, Merciful fate and even Contradictionand that is that I, for some reason, never became a follower of the dark lord.
It has been a similar experience with my love Stryper and other Christian metal bands. I’ve always been a seeker of solid music. For me, I don’t really care about the lyrics as long as the musical composition resonates with something I’ve enjoyed. I never really stopped doing that StryperThe music of, recorded or live. Stryper A premier metal band, and if you think they’re not just because they’re evangelical Christians, you’re honestly wrong.
Don’t get me wrong Striper it’s all about their message, no doubt. And I may have grabbed a Bible for both of them Striper concert recently, but that won’t sway me in terms of what I think about the new record. When we were kings. Whether you love Striper for their christian content or not, that post is fantastic either way.
Michael Sweetlead vocalist and guitarist, shares with us the concepts for some of the songs on the new record, 12 of them.th Studio LP, “We’re always trying to blend the past with the present. Trying to incorporate the classic sound that older fans miss with the modern sound that new fans hope for.” After a number of spins, I can confidently say that the final product is exactly as Sweet describes it, and this mix of ’80s sound and ’20s sound is aptly seen on “Love’s Symphony”.
“Grateful” is another great song that’s also a bit of a throwback. I’d say it’s one of the more radio-friendly songs and accessible to more casual fans of heavy music.
“Grateful” is a response to all the fans who wanted to hear songs like “Calling on You” back. It’s a different side of the band musically straight forward, pop/rock with melody and groove. It’s also a message of gratitude and being grateful for what you have, no matter who you are,” she says. Sweet.
Betrayed by Love is a really catchy ballad with beautiful multi-layered vocals. Likewise, “Rhyme of Time” slows things down a bit, but still shines. “Raptured” brings a little more groove to the record and also has a chorus that you can’t help but sing along to. The CD’s opener, “End of Days,” is straight-up fury that will have you hooked from the first few bars.
Overall, I’d say I like it When we were kings big deal The record has a lot of heft and some great riffs that represent that classic Striper guitar tone This is significantly heavier than 2020 Even Satan believesbut not as fast as in 2018 God damn evilwhich I consider to be their most aggressive record to date.
Indeed, I wish the band would come out with another furious burner like ‘Take it to the Cross’, as the band seem to shine in the composition at high speed; and while there’s some speed on the newest record, I still want more. That being said, cuts like “dividend by design” and “Trinity” are certainly heavy, emphatically; Perry Richardsonis more than capable bass.
Speaking of classic guitar tone, the record’s closer, “Flawless World,” definitely takes me back. Overall, the nostalgia here is evident and intentional, but with a new spin on the sound. There’s nothing dated about the sonics or the song structures at all. Perhaps the most impressive thing is that Michael SweetIt’s just that the sound doesn’t age at all.
With many StriperPeers in the 80s barely kept the spirit alive with half-baked tours featuring less than half of the original members. Sweet brothers Oz Fox and: Perry Richardson continue to write stellar new music and push themselves creatively. This newest LP is an obvious must have.